Container Planting Basics

Container

Start with a new or a cleaned sanitized pot. Old potting soil must be removed as it is contaminated from what grew in it previously. There is no pot too large or too small but ideally it should have good drainage.

Soil

Fill with a quality soil-less potting mix, preferably one containing slow release fertilizer. We highly recommend Wilson's Professional Potting Mix which is the same mix that we grow all of our great looking plants in the garden center. Cheap potting soils are very costly, as the plants will never be as beautiful as they could be. We want you to have maximum success for your efforts.

Proper Ratio Of Plants

Use the proper ratio of plants in proportion to pot size. Some suggested guidelines (depending on the size of the plants)

Small (8-10” size): 3 plants

Medium (12-14"): 5 plants

Large (16-20"): 7 plants or more

After determining the proper number of plants, choose those that require the same growing conditions. i.e. sun/shade and moist/dry requirements.

Pick tall “thrillers”, mounding “fillers” and low or trailing “spillers” to balance out the container and give dimension.

Plant

Set the plants in the proper locations in your pot before planting to get an idea of the look.

Plant the plants into the potting soil no deeper than the top of each rootball. Planting too deeply can kill many kinds of plants. Gently firm the soil around the root systems as you plant.

Water And Fertilize

Water the container well. Check moisture levels daily. In hot, dry weather, containers often need watered more than once a day if they are grown outside. A drip irrigation system with a timer will make your life easier and allow you to be away for extended periods.